an unrequested music review

For some really really strange reason I am obsessed with the newest Snow Patrol album. Their first one was okay, but I thought they were kind of overplayed and not stellar. But the new album has totallly grabbed me... It's different from what they've done before, but still familiar. They just got it right, ya know? And I have one line stuck in my head all the time... (language warning.... but its my blog and I can cuss if I want to :) it goes:

"Cool your beans my son/ you look a fuckin mess"

Why this stands out to me, I really can't tell you. In the context of the song its just cool. Fits. And I think its appropriate to so many people on so many levels. A line you could use multiple times throughout the day. Someone breathing down your neck in line at the grocery store, tapping their foot, looking at their watch, hair all wind-blown and messed up, out of breath from rushing from aisle to aisle for their stupid groceries? Use it then. Your friend comes in, whining on and on about their stupid boyfriend and how he hasn't gotten her a new whatever in wayyyyy too long, screeching with that really high voice that girls only use when they're trying to be pissed off? Use it then. I don't know. Just seems like I would want to say it like 15 times a day.

So anyway, check out their album. Love it.

The Frays new one... not so much. Its good, if you liked the first album. I was just under the impression that since they waited 3 years to release their sophomore album that it might have some new stuff. It doesn't. The lyrics are good, but the sound is identical to their first. 3 out of 5 stars.

If you're looking for some new music, check out The Bird and the Bee (I like both albums but "Ray Guns are not Just for the Future" is my fave), Priscilla Ahn (she's very laid back, almost like Norah Jones but I like her more than Norah) and if you want something to dance to, Lady GaGa is pretty cool. She's kinda trashy, but the songs are fun and catchy.

Just felt like talking about music I guess. I love finding new music. It's good for the soul.

boredom.

I always thought that I would long for the day when I didn't have to work... when I didn't have to rush around like a crazy person. And now that I have it, I HATE it! Although work isn't exactly the most fun thing imaginable, it plays an important part in our lives. It gives us a purpose, something to do, and perhaps most importantly, money. I have worked since I was 16... and the majority of my jobs have been doing things that I hate. When I was young, I worked at Wild Water Adventures (a water park) as a caterer. A CATERER. Can you imagine? It was like 110 outside, we'd be lugging tables and hot food around for 6 non-stop hours. Serve hotdogs and barbecue pork to hundreds of disgusting people, and then take it all apart and haul it half a mile back to the kitchen. Ugh! It was awful! Still the worst job I think I've ever had. But I worked. Because I had to. Then I did the whole two job thing throughout undergrad, working at a bank and an ice cream shop or old navy and going to school with at least 15 units. Was it hard? I guess. I didn't really know any different. I didn't have free time, but I didn't really know that was an option. Then, at Tech, my weeks consisted of class (12 units), seeing clients, teaching, supervision, meetings, working in the clinic office, and writing papers in my free time. Weeks weren't 40 hours; they were 60-70 for the first two years.

And now, you ask? Hmm... here's a typical day:
-sleep in (why not, its not like I have somewhere to be!)
-check facebook.
-think about where i want to go work for the day (usually starbucks or panera)
-get ready
-go read articles until i can't focus anymore (by now its about 4pm)
-come home, walk Bailey (2 miles)
-maybe a little wii yoga or pilates
-dinner with the rents (ohhhhhhh i need to get out of this house)
-read another article or two if i can handle it
-more facebook while i check careerbuilder.com for jobs (there aren't any)
-apply for any and all jobs i think i could possibly do
-tv
-bed.

While its nice to actually be getting some dissertation time in, there's only so much I can do everyday... burnout happens quickly. I am making progress though, which is encouraging. But the whole job thing is just really bumming me out. I haven't ever not worked! Its gross. I don't like it. I feel lazy and unproductive. The jobs I've heard back from tell me I'm overqualified. Grrrrrrrrrreat. I don't really care. Just let me work. It's gotten so bad that I'm thinking of going back to something like the bank just to make some money. But then I worry that it will take away the time from the diss (because really, am i going to want to come home after being at a shitty job all day and want to write? NO.) So anyway, there's my dilemma. Jobs are so scarce around here I don't even know if I could get on with a bank... but we'll see. I have a masters degree and almost a phd... and I'm about to go be a bank teller. How depressing is that. It reminds me of the Simpsons episode where they go into a bookstore, and Bart takes off. Marge calls after him, asking where he's going... his response is something like "I'm gonna go to the checkout and taunt the PhDs behind the counter!" Marge says "Bart, that's not nice... they're not bad people, they just made terrible life choices!" Maybe we did. Mayyyyyyybe we did.

polyvore.com!

Well, thanks to my friend Dom I am obsessed with polyvore.com! You can shop around, create ensambles, and shop for the items that you like. You can browse what others have created to get ideas for yourself, and sometimes even get linked directly to what you want to buy! It's great for the girl that loves to shop... for the rest of you, probably not so much :) This was my first shot... what do you think?

holy smokes!

Now these are some ashes! 

She got me... good. It's only 2pm... I get to run around town all day like this. Holy smokes!

twitter!

I just discovered twitter a few days ago, and I have to admit that I am addicted! I've known about it for a while, but never really saw the allure. So I finally signed up on a whim (procrastination takes many forms...) and I love it! I think it appeals to the narcissist in all of us. I mean, who wouldn't want to get updates on every painstaking moment of my day?! You get to sit at your computer (or your cell phone) and update the world on what you're doing! In reality, no one cares. But you get to think that they do, so you update. And update. And update. And people follow you! You must be important if random people follow you. Clearly they are interested in the minutia that makes up your life. Haha... It's awesome. 

Then you get the updates from other people (you can follow online or set your cell phone to receive texts about certain people). Just think, you never have to be stuck wondering what your friend is doing that minute! Its like facebook status updating on steroids. ANDDDD you can follow celebrities/news outlets/writers/whoever. So, for example, I spent all day today getting updated with news stories from Michelle Malkin and my fave bloggers! You can respond to them, they can respond to you, its wonderful. 

There you have it: my newest guilty pleasure/procrastination technique. If you tweet, drop me a line ;)

logical.

back to the bible belt...

So it turns out that Lubbock isn't such a bad place... as long as you get to leave :). I spent almost a week back in the good ol' LBK and I have to admit that I really had a good time. Now, this will only surprise you if you knew the extent to which I hated that place while I had to live in it... and I had even said that I would never step foot back in Texas for the rest of my life. Well, that didn't exactly work out, partly because I have yet to finish my dissertation (therefore guaranteeing - sp? that I will be back at least a few more times). But this trip was mainly just for pleasure, to hang out with the people that I miss so much. I also got a little work in, but we'll talk about that later. For now, the fun stuff... 

Baby Kate!

My awesome goddaughter... she is 6 months old, and is seriously THE happiest baby that I've ever seen. She smiles and laughs all day, every day. I was with her for almost a week and I heard the kid cry maybe a handful of times... and even then, she had a good reason. Her baptism was on superbowl Sunday, so that was very cool! She didn't bat an eye when she got doused with water, and she seemed to enjoy being up in front of the crowd (could beauty pageants be in her future?? haha, just kidding Amanda!) I had a great time staying with Mike, Amanda, and Kate. Apparently we're all on the same page as far as life goes... we took it easy most of the time, lounging around and hanging out. Its a rare occurrence to spend that much time with people and not be sick of them (or them be sick of me!) by the end, right? But yeah, we had a great time the whole week (or at least I think we did! ;) 

We played the board game "Acquire" and I cleaned up... twice :) I retired undefeated... but if you ever have the chance to play this game, please do, you will love it. Its modeled after a business game (kind of like monopoly) where you buy stocks and build up businesses. It was awesome, as long as you have someone around who can do the math easily (lets be real, math is NOT my strong suit!)

I got to spend lots and lots of time with Steph, who you should probably try to know if you don't. She is one of those rare people that gets along with anyone and everyone, and I would venture to guess that the people who really know her wouldn't want to live their lives without her in it (does that even make sense?) She's just a genuine, lovable, and HILARIOUS person, and it devastates me that I don't get to see her everyday anymore. We killed so many hours at the EAP, sitting on each other's couches talking about random stuff. I think I talked more than she did :) haha. Oh, umm, I mean, we would pass each other in the halls as we were on our respective ways to write case notes or see clients. No wasting of time, ever! :D

Overall, it was just a really good trip. Some I didn't get to see (which tends to happen, I'm used to it) and some I only got to spend a little time with. I'm definitely glad that I got to see Faith before she is gone for good! We had our last Thai Pepper date... aww... 

So I flew out at 6pm Texas time, got into San Jose at 9pm Cali time, got to see Kade for a few (yayyyy) and then drove home! Yuck... but I made the drive in a little more than 2 hours, which is superb. Got home by like 2:30 Texas time, which I had the pleasure of feeling like I was in (isn't jet lag fun?). I think the flight gave me a cold, possibly? You know how all of the air is just recycled, and if one person way in the back of the plane is sick you're basically breathing their air? Yeah. I think that's what happened. 

So then I had a job interview the next day... or rather, the day after (although I rushed home because I thought it was the next day). It turns out that it was actually a job I'd be interested in, but I'm not sure if I'm qualified. The interviewer said I was overqualified for everything else, and yet I don't have the exact experience that they are wanting for this. So she asked me to interview for the position, which I think is a good sign. Won't know for at least a few weeks, which is frustrating. So keep your fingers crossed on that one :) 

And with that, I bid you adieu :)